Head of English

Salary MPS/UPS + TLR 1b £10,711

Ark Blake Academy is a growing and successful academy based in East Croydon that opened in September 2020. We are consistently oversubscribed in every year group and currently have students in Year 7 – 10. We will continue to grow and look forward to our first cohort of students completing their GCSE studies in the summer of 2025. We have recently welcomed a new Principal and a number senior and middle leaders to the Academy and are now wishing to recruit for a key role to drive forward our ambitious plans.

At Ark Blake Academy, we believe that each of our pupils is born with unique potential for greatness and can take responsibility to achieve this. Our mission for the school is to embed a powerful knowledge-rich curriculum and provide fantastic opportunities for character development, all underpinned by an environment where exemplary behaviour is the norm. In terms of our school culture, it is based around the simple but powerful belief of ‘working hard, being kind and taking responsibility’. We aim to become a leading school in London as quickly as possible by living out this day to day belief.

What we offer our staff?

·        Collaborative planning, centralised or shared resources

•      Clear and consistent behaviour systems

•      Knowledge rich curriculum & traditional T&L approach

•      Highly visible supportive leaders who have your back

•      Centralised daily detentions

•      Realistic and manageable feedback policy

•      Excellent CPD opportunities – internal & within network

•      Thoughtful and impactful meeting schedule with time for co-planning

The role

We are seeking an exceptional candidate as Head of English, to work in close partnership with the Principal, the Senior Leadership Team and lead the English department to embed the school’s vision and develop an outstanding school that empowers our pupils to take responsibility and seize greatness.

As Head of English you will lead, develop and manage the effective delivery of an outstanding curriculum, which enables the highest level of student progress and attainment.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to grow with the school. We will provide one-to-one support, coaching and access to extensive network training to support career development and leadership opportunities. 

In addition to professional support all employees are eligible for Ark Rewards, a scheme that offers discounts at many retailers and other benefits such as Cycle to Work and the Employee Assistance Programme.

You will:

·        Have an unwavering determination to deliver excellence for pupils from all starting points

·        Share the Ark Blake beliefs, vision and mission and be aligned with the Ark six pillars underpinning it

·        Be committed to Ark’s ethos of high expectations for every pupil in both academic achievement and personal development

·        Be committed to continually improving classroom practice and raising attainment

·        Manage behaviour effectively to create a positive, calm and purposeful climate for learning

·        Have the drive, skills and resilient character required to help build a new school

·        Combine subject matter expertise with a passion for teaching your subject

·        Be reflective about the Academy and committed to securing its continued development

·        Value and support practices driving continued progress across the network of Ark schools

For further information refer to the full job description and person specification.

Ark Blake Academy is part of Ark, one of the UK’s most successful school groups, with a network of 39 schools in 4 locations across the country.

As a proud member of the network, we offer:

·        Twice as many training days as standard

·        Weekly staff training designed to meet the needs of the school

·        Coaching for every teacher

·        Protected co-planning and department meeting time

·        Access to the high-quality, regular professional development

·        Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the network

How to apply:

Please click here: https://arkblake.org/current-vacancies

For more information about our school, please visit: www.arkblake.org.

To arrange a confidential conversation with the Principal about this role, please contact: v.rouse@arkblake.org

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.